Harvey & Harriet Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Very much the younger sibling of MFN. Pretty much the same, but a bit less thick and more approachable. The less thick part might have made it better but it lost some length and complexity. what you do get is an extra $20 in your pocket making this hard to beat for the buck.

2018 Harvey and Harriet is made up of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 14% Petite Sirah, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot, aging in 75% new French oak. Deep ruby-black in color, it has a very layered nose with aromas of exotic spices, crème de cassis, blackcurrant bud, tar and tilled black soil with hints of violet, lilac, cardamom and baking spices. The medium to full-bodied palate is silky and has a great interplay of fruit and spice. It has a firm, pleasantly chalky frame and just enough freshness, finishing long with a youthful cloaking of oak spice Delightfully deep and appealing.

Inky ruby. Ripe, spice-accented cherry, black currant, pipe tobacco and vanilla qualities on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet dark fruit preserve, floral pastille and bitter chocolate flavors are supported by a core of juicy acidity. Conveys an appealing blend of depth and energy and finishes sweet and long, with smooth, well-knit tannins and lingering dark berry and vanilla notes. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, December 2020)

Born from the roots of My Favorite Neigbor, you can taste the pedigree from beginning to end in this second label. Almost bombastic as it explodes on the palate, but just stops short. The components of this blend are not quite fully integrated - something sharpish is protruding, which could be the petit verdot? Nothing that a year or two in the bottle wouldn’t sort out. Huge concentration of dark fruits, are laced with sweetness and loamy soil. Full-throttle tannins let you know that this wine isn’t going anywhere for a good few years.

Wonderful past weekend enjoying some lake time with my family. These TX summers are brutal, but some relaxation by the lake always helps!

My first time trying this and after hearing the recent news (Constellation has investment in Booker now, as well as this wine has dropped from $50 to $30 and My Favorite Neighbor has dropped from $70 to $50), this is pretty killer juice for the price. A blend of 65% cab, 20% Syrah, and rounded out by equal parts petit Verdot, Malbec and petite Sirah. Inky, dark, fresh squeezed fruits abound. Aromatically, it showed spice cake, cinnamon, and baked mixed berry pie. The Malbec and petite Sirah show up on the palate with a hint of licorice and black pepper spice. Charcoal, cedar and grilled blackberries. It’s rich and decadent with a big finish. Paired perfectly with marinated skirt steak.

Opaque ruby. Black raspberry, cherry, licorice and subtle vanilla and candied rose nuances on the lively, smoke-tinged nose. Smooth and expansive on the palate, offering juicy cherry and dark berry flavors that show fine definition and acquire a spicy quality with air. Gently gripping tannins add shape to a very long, floral- and spice-tinged finish that leaves mocha and red berry notes behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2022)

I consider this to be a field blend. It’s rambunctious and lacks clear direction. Even after 24 hrs, it still wants to pick a fight. Disjointed and lacks coherence. If you like you blends big, brash and rowdy, this is for you.

Loved this offering from Booker’s 2nd label. Cab-led blend. Complex nose that that had me going back to the glass didn’t quite deliver on the palate - think it might with more time. But velvety and thoroughly enjoyable now. So into Paso rn.

Dark, plum, blueberry, vanilla/oak, tar, cassis nose
Med+ finish, creamy/toasty oak, savory/mouth filling, opens up with aeration.
Light tannin grip.

Very impressed with this wine. So much that I went back to order more but it was already out of stock.